Brown Lacrosse Looks to Solve Navy's Defense & Earn Final Four Berth
Joe Calabro, GoLocalProv Sports Team
Brown Lacrosse Looks to Solve Navy's Defense & Earn Final Four Berth
The Brown Bears men's lacrosse team is set to take on Navy in their first appearance in the NCAA quarterfinals since 1995 when they face Navy on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. at Brown Stadium.
Brown advanced to the quarterfinals after a 17-8 win over Johns Hopkins last weekend, while Navy advanced after upsetting Yale in their first round matchup. Navy comes in with the best defense in the country, allowing only 7.13 goals per game. They held Yale to just 3 goals in the second half.
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Brown comes in leading the nation in scoring with an average of 16.76 goals per game and have set a school record with 285 goals on the season.
"We have to play fast so they are not able to set up their team defense, that will be key for us. But both teams want to play fast," Tiffany added.
If Brown is able to solve the Navy defense, they will have a chance to advance to their first Final Four since 1994.
Brown vs. Navy
Brown and Navy have met three times since 1931 with the Midshipmen holding a 2-1 series advantage. Coincidentally enough, the last time they met was in the first round of the 1994 NCAA Tournament with Brown winning the game 12-5 and eventually advancing to the Final Four.
The last time Navy beat Brown was in the 1987 NCAA Tournament where the Midshipmen defeated the Bears 14-6 in Annapolis.
Home Field Advantage? Yes, But..
This game will be played at Brown Stadium, marking the first time Brown lacrosse has played there since 1996 when they lost to Syracuse 10-9. The major difference will be the natural grass which coach Tiffany acknowledged will be a factor.
"There will be a minimal effect, it's not a zero effect. In our sport, playing on a surface can help players cage ground balls, on natural grass it could be a little bit tougher," Tiffany said. He went on to add that the team would put some time into picking up loose balls on the grass during practice.
This will mark the first time a lacrosse game will be played at Brown Stadium since 2002 when the NCAA First Round was in town and featured teams such as Cornell, Stony Brook, UMass and Fairfield.
What's on the Line
The winner of this game will advance to the Final Four next weekend in Philadelphia on May 28.
They will face the winner of the Syracuse vs. Maryland game, which is also being played at Brown Stadium on Saturday at noon. Both games are on ESPNU.
For more on the game including where you can find live stats and much more, click here.
The 4 NCAA Lacrosse Teams Playing in Providence
Brown
The home town Brown University Bears are coming off a 17-8 first round win over the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays and will be looking to get back to the Final Four for the first time since 1994.
The Bears are in the midst of one of their best seasons, maybe the best season, in program history recording a program record 15 wins and going 6-0 in Ivy League play during the regular season.
Brown was ranked as high as number 2 in the country during the regular season before falling to Harvard in the first round of the Ivy League Tournament and taking a 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Leading the Way
Brown is led by Tewaaraton Award finalist Dylan Molloy.
Molloy leads the nation in total points (114), goals (60), and assists (54) and is Brown's first ever Tewaaraton finalist.
He led the bears to a school record 15 wins and the Ivy League regular season championship after Brown went 6-0 in conference play.
Molloy's 114 points so far this season ranks him 4th all-time in NCAA history.
Molloy won his 2nd consecutive Ivy League Player of the Year award and is the 6th player in the NCAA to post at least 50 goals and 50 assists.
Navy
The Navy Midshipmen are coming off an upset win over 4th seeded Yale in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, earning their first NCAA Tournament win since 2008 when they beat North Carolina.
Navy has the top ranked defense in the country and showed it by holding Yale to just three goals in the second half.
"I would say that as all Academy teams are, Navy is incredibly fit, athletic and the effort is always going to be there from a riding and ground ball perspective. They also play with an incredible amount of poise, they really took it to Yale," said Jamie Munro a Brown lacrosse alum and founder and CEO of 3D Lacrosse.
Navy will face Brown on Saturday.
The Midshipmen went 11-4 overall in the regular season, including 7-1 in conference play.
Navy was led all season by Casey Rees who has netted 29 goals and Patrick Keena who has recorded 54 points so far.
PHOTO: navysports.com
Syracuse
The Syracuse Orange come into Providence as 11 time national champions and are riding momentum after a come back win against Albany in the first round. They are in the midst of a 6 game winning streak.
Syracuse will now face top ranked Maryland in the quarterfinal round on Saturday.
"This is a program that graduated 6 offensive players last year. This might be one of the best offenses that coach Donahue (offensive assistant coach) has ever had," said Munro.
The Orange went 12-4 in the regular season and 2-2 in conference.
Cuse is led by Nick Mariano who has netted 35 goals so far while Dylan Donahue has recorded 60 points.
PHOTO: Syracuse lacrosse Twitter
Maryland
The Maryland Terrapins enter Saturday's game against Syracuse as the number 1 team in the country and coming off a 13-6 first round win over Quinnipiac.
Maryland is 15-2 on the season and have won 14 straight games.
"Many think Maryland might be the best team in the field. They are a very good team, probably the most balanced team in the field and are very well coached," Munro said.
The Terrapins were are led by Colin Heacock who netted 37 goals so far this season while his teammate Matt Rambo has tallied 35. Rambo also leads the team in points with 57 on the season.
PHOTO: Maryland lacrosse Twitter
